Quincy names new police chief, ups health district contribution
Charles H. Featherstone/Columbia Basin Herald Quincy Mayor Jim Hemberry welcomes Grant County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Kieth Siebert as Quincy’s next police chief.
QUINCY — A Grant County sheriff’s deputy is going to be Quincy’s next police chief.
At a regular Tuesday meeting, the Quincy City Council unanimously approved hiring Kieth Siebert, a lieutenant with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, as their new permanent police chief.
“Welcome aboard, Kieth, we’re happy to have you,” said Mayor Jim Hemberry.
Siebert will replace Interim Police Chief William Larson, who was hired in April to replace Bob Heimbach, who resigned suddenly in March after a lengthy disagreement about the state of the police department with city officials.
Siebert will start work on Friday, Dec. 1, but will not be sworn in until the next regularly scheduled city council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5.
“It’s exciting to come to work with the good men and women who work here,” said Siebert, who currently lives near Quincy.
He said his long experience with the sheriff’s office and working in Grant County will help him get started in Quincy.
“I know the community and most of the officers,” Siebert said. “It’s a close-knit law enforcement community here in the Columbia Basin.”
Still, Siebert noted, the Columbia Basin isn’t as insulated from the world and its troubles as it may have been once.
“Crime knows no jurisdiction,” he said.
“Although I’m saddened that we will be losing Kieth, I’m very happy for Kieth and the citizens of Quincy,” said Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones. “Kieth’s leadership and experience brought forth the best in the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, and I’m confident Kieth will bring those same strengths to the Quincy Police Department.”
The Quincy City Council also approved an agreement with the Grant County Health District that includes a $4-per-resident contribution — double what the district has been asking the city council to contribute to help support the health district.
“I see what the health district does, and we’re in a good position,” said council member Tom Harris, who also sits on the health district board. “The district is doing a lot for our community and our kids.”
“There are good things happening in our community, and I don’t want to see that go away,” Harris added.
With about 7,400 people, that would place Quincy’s contribution to the health district’s operating budget at around $29,600.
Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.